Foot Care Treatment
The feet are among the most important parts of the body. We stand and walk on them, we cram them into uncomfortable shoes, and all too often, we take them for granted.
However, it’s very common to have problems with your feet, even if you don’t wear inappropriate or uncomfortable shoes. This is why it may at some point be advisable to seek professional foot care treatment for specific problems you’re having with your feet. For other problems, you can perform foot care treatment at home, although take care not to try to self-treat when you should see a doctor.
Skin and nail problems on your feet
· Athlete’s Foot
One of the most common skin problems we can have with our feet is athlete’s foot. It’s called “athletes foot,” but anybody can get it, and in fact it can occur on any part of the body. Athlete’s foot occurs because of a specific fungus that’s often found on shower floors in locker rooms. It’s actually the same fungus that causes ringworm.
It’s not just the fungus itself that causes athlete’s foot, though. Specifically, it needs a warm, moist environment to take hold and grow, which is why it’s important to keep feet clean and dry. Over-the-counter medications can cure athlete’s foot, but it’s advisable to see a doctor if you have a particularly severe case or it’s not being cleared up with an over-the-counter product.
· Toenail Fungus
All of these different kinds of fungus infections on the feet occur because feet are typically encased in tight environments (shoes) that don’t breathe. Toenail fungus can be cured with topical medication including tea tree oil, sometimes, but it’s advisable to see your doctor if you have a stubborn case that won’t go away.
· Blisters
Blisters happen because we are particularly active (such as walking a long distance) and our feet aren’t tough enough to withstand the activity, or sometimes occur because of ill-fitting shoes. It can also happen because we are wearing tight fitting shoes that don’t breathe, or synthetic socks (as opposed to something like cotton), so that the skin on our feet becomes very soft and moist within our shoes. This can help blisters occur. To help keep blisters from occurring, keep feet dry by wearing shoes that “breathe,” such as those made of leather, make sure they are the right size, and wear cotton socks that will absorb moisture.
If you do happen to get a blister, don’t pop it. You can apply some antibacterial ointment and a Band-Aid or other covering to let it heal.
· Calluses
Calluses can be a good thing to some extent, because this tough skin helps protect our feet from being injured. However, they can also crack and bleed. Keep your feet moisturized (AND dry, which can be a conundrum), and use a pumice stone after a shower occasionally to strip down some of the callus formations that have occurred on your feet. However, don’t strip your feet down to tender, new skin; instead, simply soften calluses up in the shower and then file them away enough that they will be flexible and won’t crack.
· Bone and other structural problems
Because our feet carry us everywhere, and because we sometimes (or often) don’t wear proper footwear to support our feet, we can have problems with everything from our ankles to our toes, to even more serious problems such as fallen arches. In this case, intervention with a doctor is mandatory, since oftentimes, these problems will need surgery to correct them. In other cases, corrective footwear may fix the problem.
· Keeping problems at bay
It’s not always possible to completely forestall foot problems, but there are some things you can do to minimize problems at the very least. Never wear shoes that uncomfortably pinch your feet or toes (even in the interest of “style”), or that put stress on your ankles, such as incredibly high heels. Keep feet clean and dry, yet moisturized, at all times. Again, I know it sounds like a conundrum to say that you should both moisturize and keep your feet dry, but it’s quite possible. For example, after you shower, use a pumice stone to gently whisk away any extra callus that may crack, then thoroughly dry your feet. Follow with a thick moisturizing cream and cotton socks. If possible, wear the socks overnight so that the cream can completely absorb. Then, during the day, sprinkle some foot powder or some boric acid powder (great for its drying and antibacterial capabilities) into clean socks to absorb moisture and discourage bacterial growth.
These few simple tips should help keep foot problems at bay; if you do have some, it’s imperative that you see your doctor for foot care treatment if the problem is serious. With proper care, your feet should last you a lifetime.
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Have a professional such as a podiatrists or primary care doctor check your feet They are qualified to treat most foot problems. They are also the professionals to recommend a dermatologist or orthopedic surgeon if you need one.
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